We're Not Stumped - Centering on life stories of the Limb Loss / Amputee and Disabled Communities

In this inspiring episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland sits down with Angela Calzone, President & CEO of Inroads to Opportunities, as the organization celebrates its 66th anniversary. With a bold goal to double the number of individuals served—from 400 to 800—over the next decade, Angela shares her passion for breaking down misconceptions about hiring people with disabilities and her mission to create lasting workforce in...

The Amputee Coalition is undergoing another major transition with the resignation of President & CEO Cass Isidro, who announced her last day will be August 22nd. In her farewell message, Isidro stated that her work had been about “restoring the Amputee Coalition to its original purpose with deeper community engagement.”

That statement raises difficult questions:
 👉 Why did the Coalition need to be “restored” in the first pl...

In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland sits down with Meegan Winters, CEO and founder of AbleVu, the innovative accessibility search platform making the world easier to navigate for everyone. Meegan shares her inspiring journey—from special education teacher to tech entrepreneur—and how her friendship with Jessica, a power wheelchair user, sparked her mission to improve accessibility for all.

Mike and Meegan explore Able...

If you’ve ever struggled with a prosthetist or received a prosthetic that didn’t meet your needs, you’re not alone — and your story could help others.

I’m Mike Bolland, host of the We’re Not Stumped podcast, where we have honest conversations about life with limb loss, prosthetics, and advocacy. I’m looking for guests to share their real experiences — the good, the bad, and the lessons learned — so we can raise awareness and improve...

In this heartfelt and uplifting episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland welcomes Katie Thomas for a conversation filled with honesty, humor, and hard-earned wisdom. Born without her right arm below the elbow, Katie began receiving care at Shriners Hospital in Tampa at age 3 and experimented with various prosthetics throughout her childhood. Over time, she discovered that prosthetics were a helpful tool—but not essential for...

Jeanette Jones returns to the We’re Not Stumped podcast with host Mike Bolland for a powerful conversation that goes beyond music. She shares a shocking and emotional story about the accessibility barriers she and her partner Frank encountered at a Def Leppard concert at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. From steep hills to discriminatory treatment by staff, their experience sheds light on how accessibility still falls short—ev...

 Is your website really accessible to everyone? In this powerful episode of *We’re Not Stumped*, host Mike Bolland welcomes web accessibility expert Maigen Thomas to perform a live audit of the podcast’s website—and the results are eye-opening! 

What We Cover: 

- Real-time website evaluation: accessibility, usability, and UX - What screen readers miss—and how to fix it 

- How to label forms, fix headers, and improve navigation 

- ...

 Here’s the actual quote from a company called the LN4 Hand Project: 

"A prosthetic hand is an invaluable asset to an individual without an upper limb." "An upper limb prosthesis can determine whether or not an individual is able to be employed, contribute to household duties, or provide an increased sense of independence." 

As a successful one-handed person—a podcaster, speaker, nonprofit founder, and former pro ...

In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland welcomes Brittany Dejean, founder of Inclusion Jumpstart and former Airbnb accessibility leader. Brittany opens up about how her father’s spinal cord injury at age 12 inspired her lifelong passion for disability inclusion.

She shares insights from her 6.5 years at Airbnb working on accessibility and diversity initiatives, her nonprofit work with Able Thrive, and her current mis...

In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland gets real about the challenges of finding a job while living with a disability. Born without his right hand, Mike has firsthand experience navigating interviews, workplace bias, and the self-doubt that can creep in during the job search.

He shares tips that helped him—and that can help you—stand out for the right reasons, from understanding your rights under the ADA to deciding...

In this uplifting episode of We're Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland welcomes Latonyia Billops, a bilateral above-knee amputee, who shares her remarkable story of surviving a traumatic car accident that changed her life forever. While helping a stranded motorist, Latonyia was struck by a truck that crossed the highway median—resulting in the loss of both her legs.

Despite unimaginable trauma, Latonyia never lost her faith. She ope...

In this empowering episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Dr. Jackie Garcia, PT, DPT — a bilingual physical therapist, neurologic specialist-in-training, and founder of Nxt Stride Rehab — a virtual coaching program transforming how amputees recover, rebuild, and thrive.

Jackie opens up about her journey into physical therapy, her passion for supporting individuals with limb loss and spinal cord injuries, and ...

In this powerful conclusion to the Triple A’s of Limb Loss series, host Mike Bolland explores the third and perhaps most impactful "A"—Attitude.

Born without a right hand, Mike shares how attitude isn't just a mindset—it's a survival tool. With honesty and humor, he dives into how your outlook shapes your journey after amputation, influences your recovery, and determines how you show up for yourself and others.

Wh...

In this moving episode of We’re Not Stumped, Gini Thomas shares her incredible story of resilience after a tragic motorcycle accident took her husband’s life and left her facing devastating injuries. After three years of limb salvage attempts, Gini made the courageous decision to undergo an above-knee amputation in 2015.

She opens up about her life-changing transition from traditional socket prosthetics to the Integrum OPRA Implant ...

We’re Not Stumped is the podcast that amplifies voices in the limb loss and disability communities — one story at a time. Hosted by Mike Bolland, who was born without a right hand, each episode explores powerful journeys of resilience, recovery, and purpose.

Centered around Mike’s Triple A’s of Limb Loss — Alone, Advocacy, and Attitude — the podcast tackles the emotional and practical challenges of amputation and disability while ce...

In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Brooke Brown—a passionate advocate, spiritual wellness guide, and founder of Brooke’s Butterfly Touch. Brooke, who lives with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, shares how her journey led her to discover Reiki, energy healing, and the power of self-connection.

As an Ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona and host of the Rolling in Grace podcas...

In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland introduces the first part of his personal “Triple A’s” philosophy: Alone, Advocacy, and Attitude. Today’s focus is on that first word—Alone—a stage that many people experience after limb loss but rarely talk about openly.

Mike, a congenital amputee and cancer survivor, shares what it means to feel alone physically, emotionally, and socially after amputation—and why that feeling...

In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland welcomes Chris Baschuk, a trailblazer in upper limb prosthetics and the Director of Clinical Services at Point Designs. Chris also serves on the board of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists and is a proud ambassador for POP, an organization working to expand the pipeline of professionals in Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Pedorthics.

Together, Mike and Chris explore...

In this solo episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland shares his personal “Triple A” framework for navigating life after limb loss: Alone, Advocacy, and Attitude.

Born without a right hand and a cancer survivor, Mike combines his own lived experience with insights from over 100 interviews featured on the podcast. He explores how the feeling of being alone is often the first emotional hurdle amputees face—and how building advo...